Rivers in New Mexico

Rio Ojo Caliente below La Madera

Rio Arriba County, New MexicoNWS LMDN5USGS 08289000Albuquerque office

Below flood stage
2.58ftStage

Observed Sun, Sep 27, 5:00 AM MDT

Flood stage
7.00 ft
Record crest
10.32 ft2025

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood10.00 ft
Moderate flood9.00 ft
Minor flood7.00 ft
Action6.50 ft
  1. 9.00 ftirrgation gates and controls along the river are inundated. Some homes nearest the river are threatened or already inundated by the floodwaters. Flooding can also be expected at the confluence of the Rio Chama and further down river toward Espanola along the Rio Chama.
  2. 7.00 ftfarm and pasture land is being inundated, and irrigation channels and gates may be severely damaged if high flows persist.
  3. 6.50 ftbankfull stage. Minor inundation due to overbank flow possible. Nuisance flooding is possible in low lying areas downstream near the confluence of the Rio Ojo Caliente and the Rio Chama.

Crest history

17 crests on NOAA’s list since 1937.

#DateStage
1August 25, 202510.32 ft
2August 14, 19948.27 ft
3July 8, 19987.70 ft
4July 26, 20077.35 ft
5June 29, 20007.15 ft
6May 9, 20177.13 ft
7April 20, 20176.85 ft
8April 21, 19586.42 ft
9May 8, 19806.33 ft
10May 6, 19856.26 ft
11May 18, 20056.22 ft
12April 30, 20096.02 ft
13July 9, 20025.86 ft
14May 5, 1952-9.90 ft
15April 23, 1942-9.90 ft
16May 13, 1941-9.90 ft
17April 16, 1937-9.90 ft

Most recent crests

  • August 25, 2025: 10.32 ft
  • May 9, 2017: 7.13 ft
  • April 20, 2017: 6.85 ft
  • April 30, 2009: 6.02 ft
  • July 26, 2007: 7.35 ft
  • May 18, 2005: 6.22 ft
  • July 9, 2002: 5.86 ft
  • June 29, 2000: 7.15 ft
  • July 8, 1998: 7.70 ft
  • August 14, 1994: 8.27 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the West Gulf River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 12 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.

Sources

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.